aid, 'Those means were indicated by the high-souled
Prahlada while discoursing unto Indra. Listen, however, O ruler of men,
as how in brief Behaviour may be acquired. Abstention from injury, by
act, thought, and word, in respect of all creatures, compassion, and
gift, constitute behaviour that is worthy of praise. That act or exertion
by which others are not benefited, or that act in consequence of which
one has to feel shame, should never be done. That act, on the other hand,
should be done in consequence of which one may win praise in society. O
best of the Kurus, I have now told thee in brief as to what Behaviour is.
If O king, persons of wicked behaviour do ever win prosperity, they do
not enjoy it long, O son, and are seen to be exterminated by the root.'

"'"Dhritarashtra continued, 'Knowing all this truly, do thou, O son, be of
good behaviour, if thou desirest to obtain prosperity greater than that
of Yudhishthira.'"

"'Bhishma continued, "Even this was what king Dhritarashtra said unto his
son. Do thou act according to these instructions, O son of Kunti, and
thou wilt then surely obtain their fruit."'"

SECTION CXXV

"'Yudhishthira said, "Thou hast said, O grandsire, that behaviour is the
first (of requisites for a man). Whence, however, does Hope arise? Tell
me what it is. This great doubt has taken possession of my mind. There is
no other person than thee, O subjugator of hostile towns, who can remove
it. O grandsire, I had great hope in respect of Suyodhana that when a
battle was about to ensue (in consequence of his own obstinacy), he
would, O lord, do what was proper. In every man hope is great. When that
hope is destroyed, great is the grief that succeeds, and which, without
doubt, is equal to almost death itself. Fool that I am, Dhritarashtra's
wicked-souled son, Duryodhana, destroyed the hope I had cherished.
Behold, O king, the foolishness of my mind! I think that hope is vaster
than a mountain with all its trees. Or, perhaps, it is vaster than the
firmament itself. Or, perhaps, O king, it is really immeasurable. Hope, O
chief of the Kurus, is exceedingly difficult of being understood and
equally difficult of being subdued. Beholding this last attribute of
Hope, I ask, what else is so unconquerable as this?"

"'Bhishma said, "I shall narrate to thee, O Yudhishthira, in this
connection, the discourse between Sumitra and Rishabha that took place in
olden times. Listen to it. A royal sage of the Ha